Apparatus for supplying slugs of cookies in preselected side-by-side groups for bagging

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for bagging slugs of cookies in side-by-side relation, in preselected groups including a slug conveyor for supplying slugs of cookies from a sandwiching and counting apparatus to a series of bagging or wrapping stations, so arranged as to accommodate the selection of any desired number of stations, and to supply the cookies in a continuous supply to the preselected stations in groups of two, three or four side-by-side groups of cookies, with the number of cookies in each slug preselected by the operator of the machine.

United States Patent ml Talbot et al.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING SLUGS OF COOKIES IN PRESELECTED SIDE- BY-SIDE GROUPS FOR BAGGING inventors: Richard C. Talbot; Edward Rose, both of Skokie; Robert A. Roth, Chicago, all of ill.

Peters Machinery Chicago, Ill.

Filed: Aug. 20, 1971 Appl. No.: 173,473

Assignee: Company,

US. Cl. ..$3/l59, 53/187, 53/258 Int. Cl ..B6Sb 35/32, 1365b 39/00 Field of Search ..53/l59, I87, 202, 237, 258

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1960 Fay 53/l59 1 March 6, 1973 3,290,859 12/!966 Talbot ..53/l60 3,323,281 6/1967 Talbot l ..53/l59 3,500,984 3/1970 Talbot.................... ...............53/l59 Primary Examiner-Robert I... Spruill Attorney-Carlton Hill et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for bagging slugs of cookies in side-by-side relation, in preselected groups including a slug conveyor for supplying slugs of cookies from a sandwiching and counting apparatus to a series of bagging or wrapping stations, so arranged as to accommodate the selection of any desired number of stations, and to supply the cookies in a continuous supply to the preselected stations in groups of two, three or four side-by-side groups of cookies, with the number of cookies in each slug preselected by the operator of the machine.

26 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PAHZNHiD B1975 3,719,020

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lNVENTORS RICHARD C. TALBOT EDWARD ROSE ROBERT /-\v ROTH m (w ATTORNEYS PAH-IN] [D W 6 973 SIIEU FIG. l9

INVENTORS RICHARD c TALBOT EDWARD RosE ROBERT A ROTH B I ATTORNEYS sum 1n U PATENT EDMAR 5 ms INVENTORS RICHARD c TALBOT EDWARD ROSE ROBERT A ROTH avw Z w 'flwwomgvs PAHZNTEU 6 373 FIG. 2|

INVENTORS RICHARD Cv TALBOT EDWARD ROSE PATENTEU 61975 3,719,020

INVENTORS RICHARD C TALBOT EDWARD ROSE ROBERT A ROTH ATTORNEYS PATEIITED 6% 3,719,020

sum 1m 17 156T 9 COUNT II COUNT I3 COUNT I4COUNT ISCOUNT FIG25 NO OF TEETH SLUGS CYCLE II II II II II II II II II II STATIONS XXXXXXXXXX rm mmm urummm SLUGS BAG INVENTORS RICHARD CTALBOT EDWARD ROSE ROBERT A ROTH I BY w vr/WAI mRNbYs APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING SLUGS OF COOKIES IN PRESELECTED SIDE-BY-SIDE GROUPS FOR BAGGING FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatus for segregating and supplying slugs of cookies to a preselected number of bagging stations for bagging, in which the number of cookies in each slug and number of slugs delivered for bagging is at the selection of the operator of the machine.

PRIOR ART This invention is an extension of the developments of the tray loader of U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,859, dated Dec. 13, 1966 and the Richard C. Talbot application for patent for Converger and Feeder for Cookies for Wrapping", Ser. No. 74,4l8, filed Sept. 22, I970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,l02 which patent and application are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

SUMMARY, ADVANTAGES AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Cookies are transferred from the sandwich machine and grouped in slugs of a preselected number of cookies in each slug, and delivered to a transfer conveyor transferring a plurality of slugs in side-by-side relation along drop gates disposed over a drop chute, converging the cookies for delivery to a slug conveyor, and depositing a slug of cookies between each pair of flights of the slug conveyor in a continuous operation. The transfer conveyor is driven in dwells and the drop gates of the slug conveyor open during each dwell and deposit the cookies into a drop chute which converges the groups of slugs and drops the slugs between the flights of the slug conveyor. The slug conveyor carries the slugs of cookies for deposit into from one to six bagging stations and delivers the cookies to the selected bagging stations through drop chutes, operable to drop the cookies into side-by-side troughs corresponding to the number of slugs delivered. A slug pusher operating in timed relation with respect to the dropping of cookies to the bagging station drop chute, pushes the cookies along converging troughs fitting into the mouths of bags extending along the troughs. The completion of pushing the cookies into the bag may be a manual operations, after which the bags may be heat-sealed by a machine separate from the bagging machine. The drop gates of the slug conveyor open to deliver the slugs to the bagging stations in staggered relation with respect to each other, to balance the load on the machine. As for example, where six bagging stations are in use, the slugs may be dropped into stations four, five, two, six, three and one or in any other preselected order.

The bagging stations are spaced along opposite sides of the slug conveyor and separate jack shafts are provided for the bagging stations at each side of the machine. Change speed gearing is provided in the drive to the jack shafts to drive the jack shafts at speeds corresponding to the groups of slugs to be bagged, and independent phase selector drives are provided between the jack shafts and the bagging stations, and drive individual cams and cranks at each station controlling dropping of the slugs of cookies from he slug conveyor,

dropping the slugs of cookies from the drop chute into the bagging trough and the operation of pushing the cookies along the bagging trough into the bag. The timing of the dropping of cookies from the slug conveyor, the dropping of the cookies from the drop chute to the delivery trough, and the pushing of the cookies may be varied at each bagging station through the positioning of the cams by the phase selector drives in accordance with the number of groups of slugs to be bagged and the selected number of stations to be operated, to assure the continuous dropping of the cookies from the lug conveyor to the preselected bagging stations with no piling up or spilling of cookies, or gaps or interruptions in filling of the slug conveyor and the bagging of cookies at the preselected bagging stations.

An advantage of the present invention is that articles, such as cookies may be bagged in a more efficient and expeditious manner than formerly in any number of series of bagging stations, delivering the articles for bagging in a preselected order.

Another advantage of the invention is that the drive to the slug conveyor, the drop gates for the slug conveyor and the drop gates dropping cookies to the bagging station are fixed to operate in timed relation with respect to each other, so the release of slugs from the slug conveyor will be at the proper timed intervals to fill the drop chutes and troughs at the bagging stations in a continuous operation during the entire bagging operation.

A further advantage of the invention is that individual controls controlling the dropping of slugs from the slug conveyor, the dropping of slugs from the drop chute into the bagging troughs and the pushing of cookies along the chutes into the bags at each bagging station are so operated as to enable the disconnection or connection of any bagging station at the selection of the operator of the machine.

Still another advantage of the invention is the provision of a phase selector drive mechanism at each bagging station, driven in accordance with the speed of travel of the slug conveyor, attaining the release of slugs from the slug conveyor and drop chutes to the bagging station at the proper timed intervals, which phase selector drive may vary the phases of the operating parts of the apparatus in accordance with the number of articles to be loaded, the number of stations in use and the speed of travel of the slug conveyor to keep the dropping and pushing operations in phase with travel of the slug conveyor in a simple operation by the operator of the machine.

A principal object of the invention, therefor is to provide an improved form of apparatus for bagging articles, such as cookies at a plurality of bagging stations, at any one of a number of preselected stations in a simple and expeditious manner, assuring no interruption in the bagging or packaging of the articles.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a diagrammatic plan view of a cookie bagging apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of the bagging apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at the transfer station and showing the transfer conveyor in position to transfer and deposit cookies between the flights of the slug conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the transfer station shown in FIG. 3 with certain parts removed in order to illustrate the drop chute converging the slugs of cookies dropped from the transfer conveyor, and transferring the cookies to the flights of the slug conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic transverse sectional view taken through the apparatus at a bagging station, and showing the dropping of cookies from the slug conveyor to a drop chute at a bagging station with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in section.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in detail a drop chute, receiving slugs of cookies from the slug conveyor, at a bagging station for dropping the slugs to a bagging chute.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view illustrating the slug conveyor drop chute and bagging chute at a bagging station, and generally showing the drive to the pusher pushing groups of cookies along the bagging chute for bagging.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away in order to show the pusher and bagging chute at a bagging station.

FIG. 9 is a partial fragmentary transverse sectional view at a bagging station, looking at a bagging chute and pusher, at the receiving end of the chute.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view looking toward the bagging trough at a bagging station and showing the pusher and converging troughs converging the cookies to the bagging trough to be pushed into a bag and inserted along the bagging trough.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through the slug conveyor.

FIG. 12 is a partial fragmentary plan view of the slug conveyor.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the slug conveyor showing the positions of the supporting gates for cookies in closed positions and in open positions with certain parts removed.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view with parts removed and other parts broken away and in section showing the adjustable guides for the sides of the slug conveyor, and the means for laterally adjusting the guides toward and from each other.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail top plan view illustratin g the adjusting means for the side guide positioner for the side guides of the slug conveyor.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation showing the actuating means for the side guide posi tioners.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view in side elevation with certain parts in section, and showing the toggle lock for locking the positioner and side guides for the slug conveyor in position.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view il- Iustrating the change speed drive to the jack shafts for driving the dropping and pushing mechanism at the bagging stations at each side of the machine.

FIG. 19 is a view in transverse section, illustrating the differential mechanism driven from the jack shaft, for driving a cam shaft at a bagging station, controlling the dropping and discharge operation of the slugs of cookies.

FIG. 20 is a partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through the differential and showing the cams on the cam shaft and the crank for effecting operation of the dropping and pushing mechanism at a bagging station.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the adjustment for means for adjusting the differential and the cams and crank shaft in accordance with the groups of slugs to be bagged.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view diagrammatically showing the cam controlling the dropping of cookies from the drop chute to the bagging chute and controlling the dropping of cookies from the slug conveyor into the drop chute showing the mechanism for rendering a bagging station inoperative, in position to render a bagging station inoperative.

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing the cam and microswitch for controlling dropping of the cookies from the slug conveyor.

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view, diagrammatically showing a portion of a cam operating the drop gates at a bagging station showing the mechanism in an operative position; and

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view diagrammatically showing the drive connections to the transfer conveyor, slug conveyor, and differentials at each bagging station.

MACHINE IN GENERAL AND TRANSFER TO SLUG CONVEYOR In FIG. 1 of the drawings, we have diagrammatically shown in plan, a conveyor 10 conveying cookies from a bake oven (not shown). The cookies are taken by hand from the conveyor 10 and transferred to side-by-side vibratory feeder troughs I l on one side of the conveyor, and into the vibratory feeder troughs 12 on the opposite side of the conveyor 10, and fed to a sandwich machine 13 coating the cookies with cream and making the cookies into sandwiches in a manner similar to that shown and described in US Pat. No. 2,936,557, so not herein shown or described further.

From the sandwich machine, the sandwiched cookies are transferred in rows, herein shown as being in four rows, to a counting conveyor 15, separating the rows of cookies into slugs of a preselected number and delivering the slugs in side-by-side relation to a transfer conveyor 16. The transfer conveyor 16 transfers the cookies along drop gates 17 (FIG. 4), which are movable to release the slugs of cookies to the space between the flights of a slug conveyor 19, in timed relation with respect to travel of the slug conveyor, to fill the space between each flight of the slug conveyor upon traveling movement thereof. The counting conveyor, transfer conveyor and drop gates are shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,290,859, so need not herein be shown or described, except insofar as the transfer conveyor and drop gates cooperate to continuously fill the flights 

1. In an apparatus for supplying slugs of articles, such as cookies in preselected side-by-side groups, and in combination with a transfer conveyor, conveying counted slugs in side-by-side and end-to-end relation, and releasing means for said counting conveyor, releasing side-by-side slugs therefrom, a slug conveyor disposed beneath said transfer conveyor having a material carrying run in slug receiving relation with respect to said transfer conveyor and traveling at a uniform rate of speed at right angles with respect to the direction of travel of said transfer conveyor, slug conveyor drop gates forming flights for said slug conveyor, means operating said drop gates to discharge a preselected number of slugs therefrom, a series of bagging stations spaced along said slug conveyor, each including a drop chute in slug receiving relation with respect to said slug conveyor, divided in accordance with the number of slugs to be dropped thereto, drop chute drop gates forming the bottom of said drop chute, each supporting a slug dropped thereto, means operable to move said drop gates to release the slugs therefrom, loading means disposed beneath said drop chute in slug receiving relation with respect thereto, means operating said loading means in timed relation with respect to operation of said drop gates, individual operating and control means at each bagging station, operating said means for operating said drop gates of said slug conveyor, said means for operating said drop gates of said drop chute, and said loading means in timed relation with respect to each other, means selectively operable to render any one of said operating means and bagging station inoperative, and other means synchronizing the phase of operation of said drop gates of said slug conveyor, and said drop gates of said drop chute and said loading means in accordance with the number of slugs being loaded and the number of stations in operation.
 1. In an apparatus for supplying slugs of articles, such as cookies in preselected side-by-side groups, and in combination with a transfer conveyor, conveying counted slugs in side-by-side and end-to-end relation, and releasing means for said counting conveyor, releasing side-by-side slugs therefrom, a slug conveyor disposed beneath said transfer conveyor having a material carrying run in slug receiving relation with respect to said transfer conveyor and traveling at a uniform rate of speed at right angles with respect to the direction of travel of said transfer conveyor, slug conveyor drop gates forming flights for said slug conveyor, means operating said drop gates to discharge a preselected number of slugs therefrom, a series of bagging stations spaced along said slug conveyor, each including a drop chute in slug receiving relation with respect to said slug conveyor, divided in accordance with the number of slugs to be dropped thereto, drop chute drop gates forming the bottom of said drop chute, each supporting a slug dropped thereto, means operable to move said drop gates to release the slugs therefrom, loading means disposed beneath said drop chute in slug receiving relation with respect thereto, means operating said loading means in timed relation with respect to operation of said drop gates, individual operating and control means at each bagging station, operating said means for operating said drop gates of said slug conveyor, said means for operating said drop gates of said drop chute, and said loading means in timed relation with respect to each other, means selectively operable to render any one of said operating means and bagging station inoperative, and other means synchronizing the phase of operation of said drop gates of said slug conveyor, and said drop gates of said drop chute and said loading means in accordance with the number of slugs being loaded and the number of stations in operation.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loading stations are disposed along each side of the slug conveyor, wherein a line shaft is provided for driving the means for operating the slug conveyor drop gates, the drop chute drop gates and the loading means, and wherein the drive means from said line shaft includes an individual phase selector drive at each bagging station, operable to change the phase of operation of the slug conveyor drop gates drop chute drop gates and the loading means in accordance with the number of stations in operation and in accordance with the number of slugs delivered at each loading station.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein manually operable means are provided to disconnect a preselected phase selector drive from an associated bagging station, and include, a stop member selectively positionable to stop rotation of the drive at a preselected position in the cycle of rotation thereof.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drive means also includes an overrunning clutch at each station, wherein the stop is positionable to disengage said overrunning clutch at a preselected point in the cycle of rotation of said clutch and to release said clutch and assure the operation of said clutch at the same point in the phase of rotation of said drive means as the point of stopping of rotation thereof.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the phase selector includes a single drive shaft, effecting operation of said slug conveyor drop gates, said drop chute drop gates and said loading means, wherein the drive to said drive shaft includes an overrunning clutch, and wherein the stop is operable to disengage said clutch to take a selected station out of operation by disconnecting the drive to said drive shaft.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the drive from the line shaft includes at least one jack shaft, wherein means are provided to change the speeds of the jack shaft as the number of slugs being loaded and stations in operation changes, and wherein the phase selector includes means selectively operable to change the angular relation of said drive shaft relative to the means for operating the slug conveyor drop gates, the drop chute drop gates and the loading means relative to the number of stations in operation, to assure operation of said slug conveyor drop gates, said drop chute drop gates and said loading means at the required phase relation with respect to the number of stations in operation, the number of slugs being loaded and the changes in speed of said jack shaft.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the phase selector is a planetary-type of phase selector and includes a disk coaxial with said drive shaft, a pair of spaced idlers freely journalled on said disk for rotation about axes spaced radially from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, means for holding said disk from rotation, a driven member coaxial with the center of said disk, means driven from said jack shaft for driving said idlers and driven member, and means for changing the angular position of said disk while said jack shaft is in operation, said idlers reacting against said drive by said jack shaft and effecting the angular positioning of said driven member by bodily movement of said idlers and rotatable movement of said idlers, reacting against said drive, and thereby changing the angular position of said drive shaft relative to said disk.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the drive connection from said disk to said driven member to adjustably move said drive shaft relative to said disk, is a stepup drive connection.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, including a hand wheel and screw rotated thereby are provided for angularly moving said disk to change the phase of operation of said drive shaft, and a nut threaded on said screw, and pivoted to said disk for movement about an axis intersecting the axis of turning movement of said screw, and perpendicular thereto.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, including a sprocket on said jack shaft, an endless chain driven from said sprocket and trained about one idler and inwardly therefrom to and about said driven member and from said driven member outwardly about the second idler and back to said jack shaft.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a semi-annular ring is spaced from and attached to said disk and extends about said drive shaft coaxially therewith, and has an opening therein within which said idlers extend, and wherein the periphery of said ring forms a guide means for the incoming and outgoing runs of said endless chain.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5, including means maintaining the revolutions of the jack shaft per slug cycle the same regardless of the number of slugs being loaded and number of stations in operation, wherein the drive shaft is a cam shaft, wherein the phase selector drives said cam shaft one revolution per slug discharge cycle, wherein a first cam is driven by said cam shaft for operating the means for operating said slug conveyor drop gates, a second cam is mounted on said cam shaft for operating means for operating said drop chute drop gates and moving said drop gates into position to release slugs of cookies discharged therein by said slug conveyor drop gates, and a drive member is mounted on said shaft for operating said loading means to move into loading and return positions during one revolution of said cam shaft, and wherein the phase selector for driving said cam shaft from an associated jack shaft is operable to vary the position of said cam shaft and cams and synchronize the phases of operation of said cam and said drive member to effect a completion of the droP gate opening and closing operations and the loading operation and return of the drop gates and loading means in the proper phase relation with respect to each other and speed of travel of said jack shaft and slug conveyor.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the phase selector is a planetary-type of phase selector and includes a disk coaxial with said drive shaft, a pair of spaced idlers freely journalled on said disk for rotation about axes spaced radially from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, means holding said disk from rotation, a driven member coaxial with the center of said disk, means driven from said jack shaft for driving said idlers and driven member upon holding said disk from rotation, and means for changing the angular position of said disk while said jack shaft is in operation, said idlers reacting against said means driven from said jack shaft upon bodily movement thereof about said cam shaft and rotatably driven thereby to effect a drive to said driven member, and change in the angular position of said drive shaft relative to said disk.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, including a hand wheel and a screw rotated thereby, for rotating said disk to change the phase of operation of said drive shaft, a nut threaded on said screw, and means pivotally connecting said nut to said disk, for movement about an axis intersecting the axis of turning movement of said screw and perpendicular thereto, and spaced radially from the axis of rotation of said cam shaft.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a sprocket is secured to said jack shaft and rotated therewith, wherein the means driven from the jack shaft for driving said idlers and driven member comprises an endless chain meshing with said sprocket and trained about said idlers and driven member and having driving engagement therewith.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, including a semi-annular ring spaced from and attached to said disk and extending about said cam shaft, coaxially therewith and having an outside diameter proportionate to the number of teeth in said sprocket, an opening through the periphery of said ring on opposite sides of said idlers, the periphery of said ring forming a guide means for said endless chain, guiding said chain to and from said idlers and accommodating said chain to be trained about said drive sprocket on said cam shaft.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, including a tension idler maintaining tension on said endless chain, whereby rotation of said disk to vary the change in phase of operation of said cam shaft effects the tensioning of the slack side of the chain against said tension idler, to accommodate rotation of said driven member and cam shaft and the placing of slack on the normally tight side of the chain upon holding said jack shaft from rotation.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cam on said drive shaft for operating said slug conveyor drop gates is detachably mounted on said shaft, to accommodate the dropping of said slugs by said slug conveyor drop gates in accordance with the number of stations in operation, and the required number of slugs to be discharged at each bagging station, by the interchanging of selected cams, to maintain a uniform discharge of slugs and a continuous loading operation thereof.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a cam is provided at each bagging station having lobes spaced in accordance with the number of slugs being loaded, wherein said cam is mounted for movement toward said slug conveyor into an operative drop gate release position, and away from said slug conveyor to accommodate closing of said drop gates into position to support slugs of cookies deposited thereon, wherein the means moving said cam toward and from said slug conveyor is operated by said first cam on said jack shaft in preselected time relation with respect to opening of said drop chute drop gates, to accommodate the depositing oF slugs of cookies therein when said slug conveyor drop gates are in their closed positions.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a rectilinearly movable motor is provided to move said last-mentioned cam toward and from said slug conveyor, and wherein a limit switch operated by said first cam is provided to effect operation of said rectilinearly movable motor.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rectilinearly movable motor is a fluid pressure operated motor, and wherein the limit switch effects the supply of fluid under pressure to and the release of fluid under pressure from said motor
 22. The apparatus of claim 19, including an actuating arm for each flight of said slug conveyor, pivotally mounted on said slug conveyor, an operative connection between each actuating arm and slug conveyor drop gate, means biasing said actuating arm and drop gate in a cookie supporting position, and a follower roller on said actuating arm engageable with a lobe of said cam to move said arm and the drop gate associated therewith into a slug release position.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, including a fluid pressure operated cylinder for moving the cam at a bagging station toward and from said slug conveyor, a limit switch operated by said first cam on said cam shaft and effective to supply fluid under pressure to said cylinder to move said cam at said bagging station into operative association with said follower rollers on said actuating arms.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, including spring means biasing said cam at said bagging station out of operative association with said follower rollers, and other spring means biasing said drop gates into their cookie supporting positions and said actuating arms and follower rollers in position to engage said cam at said bagging station upon movement of said cam toward said slug conveyor during each cycle of rotation of said cam shaft.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the loading means at each bagging station comprises a pusher at each station, pushing slugs of cookies in laterally aligned relation wit respect to each other for loading, wherein the means operating said pusher comprises a crank secured to said cam shaft, and a link and lever connection between said crank and pusher operating said pusher in a slug loading direction for a portion of a revolution of said crank and returning said pusher for the balance of the cycle of rotation of said crank. 